Chapter 565: It’s the adrenaline

They said we learn from people—and it was true.

In Penny’s first life, what Nathaniel taught her was that enemies could smile, laugh, wish you good luck, and call themselves friends without a problem. The pain, disappointment, and rage Penny felt for her family were as painful as it could get, but this guy brought a different kind of pain.

After all, her family should’ve been her pillar of support, but they never imposed themselves like that. From the beginning, they didn’t like her. Therefore, even if they scolded her and never appreciated her, it was almost a given that they’d do such a thing.

But Nathaniel?

Nathaniel posed as a real friend and someone she could trust. He acted like he was her only ally, like he was the brother she never had. That was why, after learning the truth behind her downfall, it broke the only piece that was keeping her together.

All the things she thought she was, she realized she was worse than that after his betrayal. It explains her anger toward this man, and even when Penny thought she was okay with it in this lifetime, she thought wrong.

Standing by the door, her eyes fell on the man crying on the floor like a kid throwing a tantrum. The sight was horrible and ridiculous, but the second their eyes met, Penny found herself frozen in place. She had imagined what she would do or say once she met the person who broke the last piece of her heart, despite knowing that another betrayal meant she would fall apart.

She imagined venting her anger, hurting him the way she hurt, and cursing him to hell. She imagined him begging for his life and so on. But now that he was there, just a few steps away from her, she couldn’t speak or think. Like a fool, she stood there frozen, her eyes almost welling up with tears.

What a fool.

Foolish little Penny.

Before the tears that threatened to fall could stain her cheeks, she spun around. Penny breathed in a jagged breath, took an awkward step, and slammed the door closed.

"Huh?" Nathaniel blinked before his breath hitched, mouth wide open in horror. "Is that—is that—oh!"

Unlike Penny, who had to manage her emotions, Nathaniel felt only one: terror. He panicked and looked around the bedroom, knowing there was nowhere he could go except the door. Forgetting all the dramatic sentiments he had moments ago, he ran around the bedroom in a panic.

Meanwhile, Penny stood outside the door, catching Renny and Chunchun sauntering toward her. A tear rolled down her cheek—despite her attempts to hold it back.

"I’m fine," she reassured the panther and Chunchun with a forced smile. "I’m... fine, I’ll be."

Renny nudged her leg while Chunchun sat down near her. The two of them looked at her, their expressions mixed as they saw tears in her eyes.

"I’m just... angry," she whispered, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "Very angry..." She couldn’t stop her body from shaking while her tears brimmed with emotions she didn’t want.

"It’s the adrenaline," she added as she took a deep breath, successfully putting a wide smile on her face. Penny bent over a little, ruffling the top of Renny’s head while stroking Chunchun’s neck with the back of her hand.

She squatted down in front of them and smiled, her eyes softening as she knew Renny and Chunchun were probably the ones who wouldn’t betray her ever. Although Penny was certain her family and even Zoren wouldn’t betray her, there was always a possibility. But with Renny and Chunchun, that possibility never existed.

"He’s not going anywhere," she muttered, hugging Renny and then Chunchun to heal herself. Hugging her pets had always healed her, even as a child. Therefore, she found refuge in them until her entire body stopped shaking.

After another second, Penny released them and drew back. She smiled.

"Thank you," she whispered, looking at her pets reassuringly. "Now, I’m okay."

Her smile remained until she rose to her feet. The second she turned around, a glint flickered across her eyes. Without further ado, instead of opening the door like one should, she kicked it.

BAM!

Nathaniel, who was inside, jumped in surprise. He was in the corner, holding a pillow in front of him, eyes shaking at the person in front of the door.

"I—my grandmother prays a lot!" he blurted out in a panic as he frantically groped his neck, pulling out his necklace with a cross pendant. "I’m saying this because she’s really a blessed woman, and one prayer always turns into reality! If she prayed for her baby grandson’s justice, I’ll get it!"

"..." Penny stared at the fool in the corner, holding a pillow in one hand and a cross pendant in the other, his feet moving up as if to show her he knew karate.

Penny crossed her arms beneath her chest, squinting and observing. Her lack of words or reaction made him even more panicky, so he lowered his foot to hide himself behind the pillow. He didn’t forget to display his cross pendant, though; it might repel the demon that came to him.

"Wha—what?!" he stuttered, his voice forced. "Why are you looking at me like that, huh?! What kind of demonic plans do you have right now?"

"Plans?" Penny laughed. "I don’t have demonic plans. All I’m thinking about is how long it would take for you to evaporate if I pushed you into a pool of acid."

Nathaniel’s breath hitched as his eyes popped wide open. "Isn’t that the very meaning of a demonic plan!?"

"Tss." Penny hissed as she dropped her arms and cocked her head to the side. ’Uncle Wild just told me he was proclaimed dead. If not for Uncle Wild, we wouldn’t have known he was alive. But why is he here? How did he end up here?’

Myriads of questions surged in her mind while looking at him. She set aside the grievances of her first life, knowing this guy was just like anybody else in this lifetime—he was still innocent. Not that she forgave him, but just as she had survived until now, she planned to get the most out of it.

"Come with me," she said as she turned around.

"No!"

Penny stopped and glanced over her shoulder. She didn’t say anything, but Nathaniel quickly threw the pillow on the bed and straightened his back.

He saluted. "Yes, ma’am! Right behind you!!"